Our project is called Engaged Arts and Craftivisms (EAC), a free weekly public community initiative where arts and crafts become tools for social justice. Held at the public library and hosted by Sit Around Chicago—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Buddhist temples, communities, and practitioners in Chicago—EAC combines creative expression with mindful activism to empower and connect community members.

EAC centers on the belief that art-making is a powerful form of activism. By engaging in crafts that reflect social issues, participants are not only restoring their own energies but also creating tangible symbols of resilience and solidarity. Each session offers a restorative space for activists to recharge and reconnect with each other, fostering relationships that can sustain their efforts for change.

The goals of EAC are threefold: (1) to restore activists’ energy and deepen community ties through the therapeutic power of art; (2) to ignite meaningful change by transforming creative works into advocacy tools that raise awareness and inspire action; and (3) to serve as a living archive, witnessing and recording the justices and injustices surrounding us.

Unique to EAC is a meditation practice rooted in Buddhist philosophy, emphasizing interconnection and the shared responsibility to alleviate suffering. This mindfulness component grounds participants, helping them approach activism with compassion, clarity, and resilience.

At EAC, arts and crafts are more than hobbies; they are catalysts for community healing, action, and historical documentation. Together, participants create a visual and emotional record of the world they hope to change, using creative expression to advocate for a more just and compassionate society.